RNA-seq Analysis Reveals Mitochondrial and Cuticular Protein Genes Are Associated with Phosphine Resistance in the Rusty Grain Beetle (Coleoptera:Laemophloeidae)

Abstract

The rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens), is a serious pest of stored grain, which has developed high levels of resistance to phosphine. In this study, five geographically distant populations of C. ferrugineus had been collected in China, specifically in granaries where phosphine fumigant is used for pest control, and they showed a high resistance ratio up to 1,907 (LC50 = 21.0 mg/liter). Then, a reference transcriptome was constructed to use as a basis for investigating the molecular mechanisms of phosphine resistance in this species, which consisted of 47,006 unigenes with a mean length of 1,090. Subsequently, the RNA-Seq analysis of individuals from the most susceptible and resistant populations led to the identification of 54 genes that are differentially expressed. GO and KEGG analysis demonstrated that genes associated with mitochondrial and respiration functions were significantly enriched. Also, the ‘structural constituent of cuticle’ term was annotated in the GO enrichment analysis and further qRT-PCR confirmed that the expression levels of nine cuticular protein genes were significantly increased in the resistant population. In conclusion, we present here a transcriptome-wide overview of gene expression changes between resistant and susceptible populations of C. ferrugineus, and this in turn documents that mitochondria and cuticular protein genes may play together a crucial role in phosphine resistance. Further gene function analysis should enable the provision of advice to expedite resistance management decisions.

Transcriptome and Micro-CT analysis unravels the cuticle modification in phosphine-resistant stored grain insect pest, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)

“…Generally, high hydrocarbon concentrations in relation to insecticide resistance are associated with thick cuticles [6,7,45]. In another study, transcriptomic findings for PH 3 -resistant Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) revealed significant enrichment of mitochondrial and cuticular protein genes [12], mirroring our results (Fig. 3).…”

Profiling of MicroRNAs in Midguts of Plutella xylostella Provides Novel Insights Into the Bacillus thuringiensis Resistance

“…The down-regulation of some Cardinium -responsive miRNAs enchanced the cuticle proteins in whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype Q and modulated insect reproduction and growth ( Li et al, 2018 ). In addition, RNA-seq of Cryptolestes ferrugineus individuals from phosphine susceptible and resistant populations revealed the significantly increased expression levels of nine cuticular protein genes in the resistance population, demonstrating that the cuticular protein genes might be related to phosphine resistance ( Chen et al, 2021 ). In the current study, the target genes of identified differentially expressed miRNAs, especially the chitinase and cuticle protein, might involved in the insects immune response and the detoxification of xenobiotics including the Bt Cry1Ac toxin.…”

Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Cuticular Protein Genes Responding to Different Insecticides in Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda

“…Due to the mixture of CPs, they greatly contribute to determine the properties of the insect cuticles for defending against environmental stresses [16,17]. Previous reports have shown that the changed expression of CP genes is associated with the exposure to insecticides, indicating that CPs participate in insecticide resistance [18][19][20][21]. However, the precise roles served by CPs in response to insecticides remain largely unknown.…”